 Formal Traditional Wedding Ceremony ScriptThis is the basic outline for all my ceremonies. It's broken down into parts. You can replace the parts with other options, if you like. There are links to different pages by each part of the ceremony so you can go directly to the page with those particular options. You can cut and paste this ceremony into a document and make it your own, if you like. More complete secular wedding ceremony scripts can be found here. You can announce an Unplugged Ceremony Here if you like. Here are some options for wording. The Bride (or Groom) is escorted down the aisle. Traditionally the Bride is escorted by her father, but it can be anyone or no one. An escort is not required. At this point it the bride and her father wish it, we ask: Who gives/ presents this woman to be married? Father (or whomever escorted her) responds: Her mother and I do. Or something similar Want more options for the presentation? Click here for more. Officiant Continues: . Please be seated. Welcoming Want more options for the welcoming? Click here for more. Welcome! We are gathered here today to celebrate and to witness the joining of Bride and Groom in marriage.As they promise to love, trust in that love, honor one another as individuals, and anticipate with joy spending the rest of their lives together. They, are surrounded by you - their friends and family. Thank you for gathering here to witness their marriage and to share in the joy of this special occasion. A Moment of Silence This is optional: Want more options for a moment of silence? Click here. We’d like to take a moment to remember those who are not with us here today. Those who were unable to be here and those who have gone on to greater things. We know that they are here with us in spirit. You can name specific people here if you like or just keep it general. (Moment of Silence) Bride and Groom, Today, as you two are joined in marriage, there is a vast and unknown future stretching out before you. The possibilities and potentials of your married life are great. We join with you in hoping you make real your dreams! That you are reborn in each other as you share your loves and dreams, wants and desires and together are enriched by them. Through your commitment to each other, may you grow and nurture a love that makes both of you better people, a love that continues to give you great joy, and also a passion for living that provides you with energy and patience to face the responsibilities of life.There was a time when your lives were two separate paths. Gradually, they were joined as you grew closer together. Today, you proclaim to the world your choice to stay on the same path together. May you be enriched by the unique view of the other! Want more options to talk about love and marriage? Click here for more. The first reading is: Want more options for readings about marriage? Click here for more. Why Marriage? By Mari Nichols- Haining. Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person, With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body... Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me, Who won't hold them against me, Who loves me when I'm unlikable, Who sees the small child in me, and Who looks for the divine potential of me... Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night With someone who thanks God for me, With someone I feel blessed to hold... Because marriage means opportunity To grow in love in friendship... Because marriage is a discipline To be added to a list of achievements... Because marriages do not fail, people fail When they enter into marriage Expecting another to make them whole... Because, knowing this, I promise myself to take full responsibility For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness I create me, I take half of the responsibility for my marriage Together we create our marriage... Because with this understanding The possibilities are limitless. The Second Reading is Want more options for readings about love to choose from? Click here. From "Union" by Robert Fulghum "You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with "When we're married" and continued with "I will and you will and we will" - those late night talks that included "someday and somehow and maybe"- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things we've promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word." Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife” Want options for spiritual readings? Click here. Want options for Christian reading and Scriptures? Click here. Vows Want options for a Declaration of Intent? Click Here. Want more options for secular/non-religious vows? Click here for more. Want more options for Christian marriage vows? Click here. You are welcome to write your own vows or replace these Do you Groom, take Bride, to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part. Groom: I do. Do you Bride take Groom, to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part. Bride: I do. Ring Exchange The rings please… The rings are the universal symbols of marriage. They mean many things. From now on you will wear these rings and they will remind you... They will remind you of the endless circle that they are. Like love, there is no beginning and no end. They will remind you daily that you are married. Sometimes they will remind you of the commitment that you have made - for better or worse. But, may they always remind you that there is one other person in the world that has pledged to love you forever, through thick and through thin and with all that they have. Want more options for the meaning of the wedding rings? Click here for more. Want to include a ring blessing? Click here for options. please repeat after me.... Bride, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be. Wear it and know that I love you. With this ring, I marry you. Groom, I give you this ring with all that I am and all that I ever will be. Wear it and know that I love you. With this ring, I marry you. Want more options for ring exchange wording? Click here for more. Looking for Christian ring exchange options? Click here. Unity Ceremony - Optional There are many other options for unity ceremonies here This is the Hand Ceremony And now as you are holding hands take a moment, so that you may see the gift that you are to each other. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. Final Blessing and Pronouncement Want more options for blessings? Secular and spiritual blessing options are here. Want a closing prayer or spiritual blessing? Click here for options. Want more options for your marriage pronouncement? Click here. The couple comes back together to join hand for a the final blessing. Life and love are the greatest gifts bestowed upon humanity. May your union grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding as well as the passion and excitement every marriage should possess. May you need one another, but not out of weakness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you support one another, as a sign of mutual independence. May you continually rediscover your love in one another, as the greatest gift of all. It is my great pleasure to acknowledge your union as “Husband and Wife.” You may now seal your marriage with a kiss!!! (Or you may kiss the Bride!) Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to introduce to you: ............................... Modern Romantic Ceremony ScriptThe Bride (or Groom) is escorted down the aisle. Traditionally the Bride is escorted by her father, but it can be anyone or no one. An escort is not required. At this point it the bride and her father wish it, we ask: Who gives/ presents this woman to be married? Father (or whomever escorted her) responds: Her mother and I do. Or something similar Officiant Continues: Please be seated. Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever. You don't have to have a ceremony to have a marriage. And when you think about it, the whole thing is kind of weird, right? You're standing on a stage, looking fancy, holding flowers, and being stared at by pretty much everyone who has meant anything to you in the past twenty-something years. So why do we do it? The marriage ceremony has been an important feature across nearly every culture, religion, generation, and society. We have thousands of important moments that happen throughout our lives, but this one is regarded as one so critical, we acknowledge its special status by sharing it with others. Why this moment? Why does this one matter beyond all the rest? Because despite all of our differences, love is what we all share. It's the great unifier — our one universal truth. That no matter who we are, where we've come from, what we believe, we know this one thing: love is what we're doing right. That's why you both are standing here. That's why you all are here to watch them stand up here. We have all loved in our lifetimes, and in this moment, we're reminded that the ability to love is the very best part of our humanity All of us here today have our own love stories. Some are short, others long. Some are yet unwritten, while others are just getting to the good part. There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing — and others that are exciting and full of adventure. You can add personal information about you and your relationship here And that brings them here. A time to pause, look back, and smile at all the moments that brought them here. And a time to look ahead at all the moments that are still to come. I'm here — we're all here — because we want those moments for you. We're here to hope with you, to support you, to be proud of you, and to remind you that love isn't happily ever after, love is the experience of writing your story. It's not one moment — not even this moment. It's every moment. Big ones like saying "I love you," moving in together, getting engaged — but mostly a million little ones that come in between the big moments. Falling asleep next to one another, making dinner together, spending holidays with your families, binge-watching Netflix shows, getting a big hug when you get home from work… These everyday moments fuse together into one big experience. And even though this experience is so incredible, words fail us when we try and explain it. That's just the way it is with love — it's meant to be felt, not described. But trying to describe love is one of our favorite pastimes. We use the words we have to write stories, and poems, and songs about love. And even though we describe love in different ways — and even though love can look different from one person to the next — we all know it when we see it. And we see it here. You fell in love by chance, but you're here today because you're making a choice. You both are choosing each other. You've chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day brighter. You're about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You're going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other. There's a simple premise to each of these promises: you're vowing to be there. You're teaming up and saying to the other, "Every experience I am going to have, I want you to be a part of." Vows Will you, Groom, keep Bride as your favorite person — to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life's tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her, and find new reasons to love her every day? Groom: I will. Will you, Bride, keep Groom as your favorite person — to laugh with him, go on adventures with him, support him through life's tough moments, be proud of him, grow old with him, and find new reasons to love him every day? Bride: I will. Will you, Bride and Groom, be each other's partners from this day forward? Will you bring out the best in one another, share your happiest moments together, and love each other absolutely — for the rest of this lifetime and for whatever may come next? Bride and Groom: We will. Ring Exchange May we have the rings please? You’ve both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises. People often say wedding bands are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. But these rings did have a beginning. The stones were formed a long time ago deep with the earth. Eventually, a series of lucky events caused them to rise to the surface, where someone dug them up. Metal was then liquefied in a furnace at a thousand degrees — molded, cooled, and painstakingly polished. Something beautiful was made from raw elements. Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, and through a combination of serendipity and effort, imperfect beings shape it into something extraordinary. It’s the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all. As you look at these rings over the years, I hope you remember that. You’ve created something invaluable, and just as I know you’ll protect these rings, I’m confident you’ll protect the commitments you’ve made to one other today. Bride, I give you this ring as symbol of my love and lifelong devotion, wear it and know that I love you. Groom, I give you this ring as symbol of my love and lifelong devotion, wear it and know that I love you. You can add a unity ceremony here, if you like. Bride and Groom , May all your days be blessed with love and friendship. May each day and night of your lives be a new beginning. May your home be filled with laughter and the warm embrace of a summer’s day. May you find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight, healing and renewal, love and wisdom, as in a quiet heart. May you always feel that what you have is enough. By the power vested in me by the state of Indiana I now pronounce you Husband and wife! You may kiss your bride!! Mr. and Mrs. .....!! Christian Wedding Ceremony Script 1More Christian Ceremony Scripts Can be found by clicking here The Bride (or Groom) is escorted down the aisle. Traditionally the Bride is escorted by her father, but it can be anyone or no one. An escort is not required. At this point it the bride and her father wish it, we ask: Who gives/ presents this woman to be married? Father (or whomever escorted her) responds: Her mother and I do. Or something similar Officiant Continues: Please be seated Welcoming Welcome to this celebration of love and the blessing of the new life being joined together by the marriage of Bride and Groom. They come to dedicate themselves to God and to each other, and with His eternal help, to fashion their house into a home, their family into a unity of His Kingdom, and to achieve within their lives a hint of eternity. Bride and Groom have come to publicly proclaim their love and devotion through holy marriage. Opening Prayer Because this is a special day, we want to begin it in a special way, and that is with a moment of prayer. I’m going to ask that you close your eyes and turn within yourselves. And now, call forth that divine presence from within you, knowing that as you do so, God’s blessings are now being poured out upon you both. “Through the presence and power and the activity of God within you, we now see you blessed with an abundance of all good. We see your minds illumined by divine wisdom, your hearts quickened by divine love and your bodies purified and blessed with divine substance. This we do affirm through the power of the living presence of God within each of you.” Amen. True marriage is more than the joining of two persons in the bonds of matrimony. In its right relationship, it is the uniting of two souls already attuned to each other. When such a true bond already exists between a man and a woman, it is proper that an outer acknowledgement be made. This acknowledgement is the prime objective of the ceremony. We are here to bear witness to the entry of these two loving friends, who are already one in spirit into the closer relationship of husband and wife. Bride and Groom you are now taking into your care and keeping the happiness of one in the world, whom you love most dear, and the dynamic flow of love is the heart of marriage. This love emerges from, responds to, and is fellowship with God and each other. It is the challenge to create an atmosphere of freedom in which you both can develop your potentials. It is working together in an attitude of service for common goals. It is sharing from the depths of your being in the understanding presence of each other. It is a union of persons which respects individuality. It is the covenant of love which accepts weakness as well as strength. You are adding to your life not only the affection and the response that your hearts desire, not only the happy companionship of hours together, but a deeper trust as well. It is the implied trust of loving. You are finding in each other that which complements your life. You are agreeing to be a tower of strength to one another. You are agreeing to carry a part of each other’s responsibilities. You are entering on an adventure of pure faith in which you give of yourselves to the utmost. Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul, and let them fill your hearts: “If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all of human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing. This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience – it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touch. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails. Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen. In this life, we have three great lasting qualities – faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Vows Bride and Groom please turn and face each other and join hands. On this day do you affirm the love that the two of you share share, looking to the future to deepen and strengthen it? Will you affirm that love in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. Together will you dream and break bread? When you stumble will you restore one another? Will you share all things, serving one another and your fellow man? Will you cherish and respect, comfort and encourage one another? Be open with one another, and stay with one another as long as you both shall live, bound by your love? Groom, do you choose Bride, to be your wife, your friend, and your love? Bride, do you choose , to be your husband your friend, and your love? May I have the rings, please? These rings are a symbol of the truth of the vows you have spoken. These rings represent the eternal love of God that lives in you and in the love that you share. Ring Exchange Bride and Groom, as you place these rings on each others fingers you are giving them as a symbol of you love and the continuing affirmation of the vows you have spoken and affirmed. Closing Prayer Let us pray, with the words of Paul. “I want you to be happy in the Lord; let your tolerance be evident to everyone. The Lord is very near and there is no need to worry. But if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus. Amen.” Pronouncement The two of you have pledged yourselves to each other before God. In the name of the Holy Spirit who performs every true marriage, I now pronounce that they are husband and wife. You may seal this marriage with a kiss…. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs............! Christian Wedding Ceremony 2The Bride (or Groom) is escorted down the aisle. Traditionally the Bride is escorted by her father, but it can be anyone or no one. An escort is not required. At this point it the bride and her father wish it, we ask: Who gives/ presents this woman to be married? Father (or whomever escorted her) responds: Her mother and I do. Or something similar Officiant Continues: Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: a person all alone, no parent, no sibling, no child; there is no end to his effort, her eyes were not content with her wealth. For whom, then, do I work so hard, and why am I depriving myself of pleasure? This, too, is vanity and the chasing of the wind. Better two than one alone, since thus their work is really profitable. If one should fall, the other helps her up. If one should rise, he can pull her up behind him. Woe those who stand alone with no one to help them up when they fall down. When two sleep together they find warmth, but how can one keep warm alone? Where one alone would be overcome, two will put up resistance, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 9-12 Opening Prayer O God, Creator of us all, we thank you for the gift of life and on this day we thank you especially for the joy that Bride and Groom have found in each other, and for the promises they will make before you. Bless all of our families and friends who are present with us on this special occasion. We also remember those who couldn't be here today, particularly (you can name people here if you like) We pray, O God, that you remain with Bride and Groom as a partner in their marriage. Grant to them, and to us all, love and understanding all of our days. Amen Please Be seated. Welcome! Thank you for joining us here today, for coming from far and wide to celebrate the joining together in marriage of Bride and groom . We gather here today to celebrate their union, and to honor their commitment to not just gazing at one another, but to looking outward together in the same direction. Bride and Groom proclaim their love to the world, and we are happy for them. We have come here as a community of family and friends to love and support the two of you. To witness your entrance into the sacred and joyous covenant of marriage, and to celebrate the beginning of your journey together as husband and wife. We are all happy that you have found each other And that through each other, You have come to know the power of love. We celebrate your union of hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. And wish you great joy and a loving and happy marriage. Declaration of support In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift. But even as that gift is shared by two people who are in love, it also touches the friends and family members who in various ways support and contribute to the relationship. All of you are Bride and Groom's community, and each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment. This is why gathering as a community is such an important part of a wedding ceremony. Because they are now taking a new form as a married couple, and in this form, they become part of their community in a new way. Today we have come together to celebrate the love you have found with each other. By being here with you, Each of us is declaring our support For your decision to join together in marriage. As families and friends, all of you here form their community of support That surrounds Them. Each of you, by your presence here today, Is being called upon to uphold them In honoring and loving each other. Always stand beside them, Never between them. Offer them your love and support, Not your judgment. Encourage them with your kindness and loving hearts, And honor this marriage into which they have come to be joined today. Marriage is the ultimate relationship because it offers the opportunity of limitless intimacy between two people. It is a great and challenging adventure into the depths and heights of human caring, Affection, trust and understanding. Today as you make your vows, your lives are intermingled As the waters of two streams become one, Flowing together into a mighty river. Marriage is a journey of transformation into the profound mysteries of life and creation. Perhaps these are the little secrets of life a couple share with each other? You know, funny little habits... In marriage, two become one and, the two of you together is much greater than the simple sum of your parts. In marriage, We do not give ourselves to another, But rather surrender into something greater. We surrender to love itself. Today, you step into a much fuller experience and expression of the mysteries and miracles of love. Today it becomes officially legal! Your precious union is lovely in its innocence, Mighty in its strength, And abundant with possibilities. It belongs to you both. Over time you will give it identity. We wish for you the wisdom, strength of character, and divine creativity To make this a happy marriage, A safe harbor. And a joyful journey to share. Vows There was a time ... a moment I felt all alone but then the sun shined upon me bearing gifts of love, friendship and harmony Everlasting love shared and expressed through you to me. The prayers, the cares, the gestures brought forth to me heal my soul For at times I'd only known to give but failed to accept and receive with grace. I'm not alone now for your warmth overwhelms me your spirit fills my soul, and I am ALIVE with your love. Do you Groom, take Bride to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part? Groom: I do Do you Bride, take Groom to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part? Bride: I do Ring Exchange Me we have the rings please... The ring is a circle... an ancient symbol of eternity and completeness, so perfect, with no beginning and no end, for love that is given comes back around again. Bride, Please repeat after me: I give you this ring as a symbol of my enduring love and lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you. Groom, Please repeat after me: I give you this ring as a symbol of my enduring love and lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you. Please face each other and take each other’s hands, so that you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will give you support and encouragement to chase down your dreams. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. Final Blessing Bride and Groom, may you live happily ever after. May all your days be blessed with love and friendship. May each day and night of your lives be a new beginning. May your home be filled with laughter and the warm embrace of a summer day. May you find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight, healing and renewal, love and wisdom, as in a quiet heart. May you always feel that what you have is enough. I now pronounce you Husband and wife! You may kiss the bride! Mr. and Mrs. ____________! Secular Humanist CeremonyDear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Bride and Groom in marriage. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife. Today you've gathered your friends and family together to celebrate this special day with you. Throughout time, what people have found that is essential for a strong and long lasting relationship is that it be founded on love. Love is friendship, quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good times and bad. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses. Love is content with the present and hopes for the future, and it doesn't brood over the past. It is the chronicles of problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories and common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things that you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else is there, it isn't enough. Reading Click here for more reading options. The reading will be a book passage from Carl Sagan Consider our planet. On it, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever lived, lived out their lives. The aggregate of all our joys and sufferings, thousands of confident religions, ideologies and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilizations, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every hopeful child, every mother and father, every inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived here on a mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam. The earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Once we lose our fear of being tiny, we find ourselves on the threshold of a vast and awesome Universe which dwarfs -- in time, in space, and in potential -- the tidy anthropocentric proscenium of our ancestors. And for small creatures such as we, this vastness is made bearable only through love. Vows This day represents so much for both of you. Of course, it is the day you begin your lives together as husband and wife. Your wedding is a public proclamation of your love, made here in front of your friends and family. But beyond that, and most importantly, you are here to make promises to each other, the promises that are the foundation of your marriage. Your vows are how you put your relationship into words- what it means today, and what it will mean for the rest of your lives. Bride and Groom have written their own vows as promises to speak to one another. You can also add vows of your choosing here if you choose not to write your own. Ring Exchange The ring is the symbol of the commitment which holds these two together. The wedding ring is the visible sign of an invisible bond which unites two hearts in love. Bride and Groom, as you exchange these rings, may they be symbols of your promises to each other and remind you of your devotion. May you feel honored to call each other.... husband and wife. may you remember that from this day the one you love is always beside you. Closing You came here today to affirm your love for one another and formally acknowledge that which your hearts already knew…that your lives are meant to be shared as one, that you are stronger together than you are apart, and that, for all the days yet to come, you wish to share together all life’s joys and challenges, committed one to the other. You have made this affirmation and commitment in the presence of the most important people in your lives. May you forever feel that the life you share is the life you have always wanted. I now pronounce you Husband and wife! YOU MAY NOW KISS THE BRIDE!!!!!! Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you for the first time as husband and wife Bride and Groom! An Interfaith Jewish Wedding ScriptWelcome Everyone! Thank you for being here today to celebrate the marriage of Bride and Groom as they make their promises to each other and become husband and wife. In the ceremony they will be honoring some Jewish traditions.
They meet here first, under the chuppah. The chuppah is a canopy which sits atop four poles. The marriage ceremony takes place beneath this canopy, which is open on all sides, representing the couple's commitment to establish a home together that will always be open to guests . There are veils in Jewish weddings - As in weddings of other faiths -They symbolize the idea of modesty and convey that however attractive physical appearances may be, the soul and character are paramount. With or without a veil, we remember this union is based on a mental, physical and spiritual commitment for a lifetime. Veils are also used to signal the groom's commitment to clothe and protect his wife. So Bride, you can take comfort in knowing no matter what, Groom will always clothe you and keep you safe. Groom, you never have to worry about dressing well again! Bride will make sure you look good! I’m not a Rabbi, but I am an interfaith minister. I believe in your ability to make intimate promises to each other, and your sincerity in making those promises will indeed bless both of you. The exchange of the wedding rings are a symbolic part of the wedding ceremony. They are traditionally a simple, yet perfect, gold band. It symbolized the hope that your marriage will be a marriage of simple beauty. It is when the ring is placed on the brides hand that marriage is considered complete. I will recite the traditional Jewish 7 blessings of marriage, followed by the breaking of a glass. It is a Jewish custom to end the wedding ceremony with the breaking of a glass. Some people say that this symbolizes the irrevocable change in the lives of the couple standing before us; others say it has its roots in superstition, when people broke glasses to scare away evil spirits. And, of course, the breaking of the glass marks the beginning of the celebration. So please, after Groom breaks the glass, I invite everyone to shout the Hebrew words “Mazel Tov,” meaning “Congratulations.” Now, Let’s Get started. Who Presents this woman/man? We do, In Jewish weddings the bride and the groom are escorted down the aisle by both of their parents. You can also ask both sets of parents to "presents this person in marriage" Thank you. Vows Please join hands and face each other On this day do you affirm the love that the two of you share, looking to the future to deepen and strengthen it? Will you affirm that love, in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph? Together will you share and break bread? When you stumble will you restore one another? Will you share all things, serving one another and your fellow man? Will you cherish and respect, comfort and encourage, each other for as long as you both shall live? Bride and Groom: We do. Do you Groom, take Bride, to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part? Groom Responds: “I do” Do you Bride take Groom, to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do you part? Bride Responds: responds, “I do” Ring Exchange May we have the rings please? The rings are the universal symbols of marriage. They have many meanings. From now on you will wear these rings, and like love, they have no beginning and no end. They are a daily reminder of your marriage. Sometimes they will remind you of the commitment that you have made - for better or worse. But, may they always remind you that there is one person in the world that has pledged their love to you with all that they have. Bride, Please repeat after me: Groom, I give you this ring as a symbol of my enduring love and lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you. Groom, Please repeat after me: Bride, I give you this ring as a symbol of my enduring love and lifelong devotion. Wear it and know that I love you. THE SEVEN BLESSINGS RECITED AT A JEWISH WEDDING There several other options for the Seven Blessings you can read here. May you be blessed with love. May your admiration, appreciation and understanding of each other foster a love that is passionate, tranquil and real. May this love between you be strong and enduring, and bring peace into your lives. May you be blessed with a loving home filled with warmth, humor and compassion. May you create a family together that honors traditions old and new. May you teach your children to have equal respect for themselves and others, and instill in them the value of learning and tikkun olam (making the world a better place). May you be best friends and work together to build a relationship of substance and quality. May your sense of humor and playful spirit continue to enliven your relationship. May you respect each other’s individual personality and perspective, and give each other room to grow in fulfilling your dreams. May you be blessed with wisdom. May you continually learn from one another and from the world. Together, may you grow, deepening your knowledge and understanding of each other and of your journey through life. May you be blessed with health. May life bring you wholeness of mind, body and spirit. May you keep each other well-balanced and grounded, and live long that you may share many happy years together. May your life be blessed with the art and beauty of this world. May your creative aspirations and experiences find expression, inspire you, and bring you joy and fulfillment. May you find happiness together in adventures big and small, and something to celebrate each day of your lives. May you be blessed with community. May you always be blessed with the awareness that you are an essential part of a circle of family and friends. May there always be within this group love, trust, support and laughter, and may there be many future occasions for rejoicing in their company. I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride! Breaking of the glass Breaking of the glass scripts can be found here. Everyone shouts Mazel Tov!!! Comments are closed.
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